For immediate release:

2000 SOUTH LANARKSHIRE HOUSEHOLDS HELPED IN TIME OF CRISIS

The Scottish Welfare Fund made 1915 payments to people in South Lanarkshire in the latest financial quarter newly released figures show – an increase of 32 percent compared to the same period last year.

A total of 1040 Community Care Grants and 875 Crisis Grants were awarded in the local authority between April and June 2019 to help people with essentials such as food, heating costs, and household items.

The Scottish Government introduced the Scottish Welfare Fund in 2013 as part of a £125 million annual package to mitigate the impact of UK government austerity.

Since its launch in April 2013, the Fund has paid out more than £200 million to support over 336,000 households across Scotland, with a third of recipients being families with children.

Commenting, Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said:

“The Scottish Welfare Fund is a vital lifeline for many people facing poverty or personal crisis.

“The fact that so many households across South Lanarkshire are in need of emergency financial help is appalling, and a sad indictment of the UK Government’s record on austerity and welfare cuts.

“The Scottish Welfare Fund is an important example of the kind of action the Scottish Government has taken using the powers it currently has to try and mitigate Westminster’s welfare cuts.”

ENDS

Notes:

The Scottish Welfare Fund helps families and people in Scotland who are on low incomes through Community Care Grants, which support people to start to live, or to carry on living, a settled life in the community and Crisis Grants, for disasters (like a fire or flood), or emergencies (like an unexpected expense).

Figures taken from ‘Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: Update to 30 June 2019’– published on the 29th October. See:

https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf